In yacht racing we all remember the time we were the 'Buffalo Boys' coming round the outside to Glory and of course we'd all like to forget the time we crashed and burned.

A major tactical play is unfolding in the 2003 Melbourne to Osaka race and it's a classic 'Buffalo Boys' game.

Up front there is still a rubber band between the two lead boats. At first light Maverick II, the Elliott 14, was 2.5 miles ahead of Kontrol, her Don Jones designed dueling partner.

During the day Maverick II has been unable to escape her partner and the gap is only 500 metres between the two. These boats have rhumblined for Gabo Island, the exit point for Bass Strait.

Team FGI, the Jon Sayer designed 11 metre competing in Racer Class C, was the first boat out of Port Phillip Bay and is still holding onto 3rd place. She is less than 30 miles behind the leaders with the fleet sailing hard on the breeze(in 30 knot north easterlies)towards Gabo Island.

In a 'Buffalo Boy' play two of her Racer Class C competitors No Fearr, Phil Coomb's Cookson 12 and Bill Gray's 11.9 metre Matrix have fallen back in the fleet. They are well off the rhumbline as they cut eastwards across the south flowing East Coast current as it fans out into Bass Strait.

No Fearr has dropped back to 11th overall and Matrix is now lying 16th in the fleet but they are having an easier time and are aiming for a rewarding north following back eddy.

It will be fascinating to follow their course overnight to see if this will be a bar boasting gain, or a never to be mentioned gamble.

In Racer B, its Lulu now fifth overall 3 miles ahead of Mad Max 6th overall.

In Cruiser Class B The Wizard is starting to clear out and is now 44 miles ahead of Naniwa with Fine Tolerance escaping the clutches of Wilson's Promontory at last.

Tomorrow she will have the first use of the following breeze and will close up on the leaders.

In Cruiser Class C, Louise is now 84 miles south west of Gabo Island, just over the horizon from Boots. Salaku after starting late has made excellent progress today and will shortly round the Prom and start climbing towards Osaka.

Tom Burton (AUS) and Alison Young (GBR) hit the right note in the Laser and Laser Radial at ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne as they took out the top honours and qualification spots to the 2015 ISAF Sailing World Cup Final.

It was double Australian gold in the Paralympic classes. Matt Bugg (AUS) came out on top in the 2.4mR whilst London 2012 Paralympic SKUD18 gold medallists Dan Fitzgibbon and Liesl Tesch (AUS) were triumphant in the two person keelboat.

Lithuania's Juozas Bernotas came out on top in the Men's RS:X whilst Russia's Stefania Elfutina was triumphant in the Women's RS:X. Both sailors claim the first Abu Dhabi ISAF Sailing World Cup Final spots whilst Jock Calvert (AUS) and Joanna Sterling (AUS) picked up the Oceanic spots for the Emirati finale.

There was some fast paced action in the 49er and 49erFX Medal Races at ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne as Nathan Outteridge & Iain Jensen (AUS) and Maia & Ragna Agerup (NOR) claimed the honours and Abu Dhabi final spots.

A tight group of five young Papua New Guinean (PNG) Laser sailors are stepping up their 2015 Pacific Games competition program using this week's ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne. PNG is one of 33 countries represented at the important Oceanic event, the largest Olympic sailing regatta in the southern hemisphere.

Nicolai Sehested (DEN) and his TREFOR Match Racing Team clinched victory today at the Energa Sopot Match Race, Poland, the 10th stage and World Championship Event of the 2015 World Match Racing Tour (WMRT).

There was no stopping current, and five-time ISAF Match Racing World Champion Ian Williams (GBR), GAC Pindar today at the Energa Sopot Match Race as he swiftly dispatched his Quarter Final opponent Joachim Aschenbrenner (DEN) in three straight wins.

The International Sailing Federation (ISAF) continues to address concerns and is taking steps to ensure the health and safety of all athletes who will be competing in the upcoming Aquece Rio, Olympic Test Event and the Rio 2016 Olympic Sailing Competition.

Veteran Polish match racer and America's Cup helmsman Karol Jablonski skilfully played the gusty conditions today to lead the twelve strong field of teams at the end of Day 2 of Qualifying at the 2015 Energa Sopot Match Race.